William Jones: Orientalist and Scholar of Ancient India

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Born in London in 1746, William Jones was one of the most celebrated orientalists who came to Calcutta in 1783 as a judge of the Supreme Court.  His contribution to reveal of India’s past to the world is immense.

One of the best minds of the 18th century, Jones was a linguistic genius. He knew all the important languages of Europe as well as Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and Turkish.      
William Jones was the president of the Asiatic Society of Bengal which he founded in 1784. He also published a journal named Asiatic Researches.  In 1789, William Jones translated Kalidasa’s Sakuntala. He followed it by translating Gita Govinda and the law-book of Manu which was published posthumously in 1794 under the title Institutes of Hindoo law.

   


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